Painkiller Alaxan: What you need to know

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was written by Pharmacist Nguyen Thu Giang - Faculty of Pharmacy - Vinmec Times City International General Hospital.
Alaxan is a commonly used pain reliever and is easily available without a prescription in pharmacies. However, that does not mean that you can abuse the drug.

1. Ingredients of the drug

Alaxan is a brand name drug that contains 2 pain relievers including: 325mg paracetamol and 200mg ibuprofen in 1 finished tablet. Paracetamol, also known as Acetaminophen, is widely used in the treatment of mild to moderate pain symptoms. The most effective medication is to relieve low-intensity pain of non-visceral origin. Paracetamol has no effect rheumatic treatment.
In addition, Paracetamol is often used to lower body temperature in patients with fever from all causes but does not reduce body temperature in normal people. Paracetamol is relatively safe in therapeutic doses.
However, paracetamol overdose is the main cause of acute liver failure. The risk of overdose is quite high when on the market there are many brand name pain relievers and fever reducers containing this ingredient, for example: Panadol, Efferalgan, Hapacol, Ameflu, Decolgen...
Also, this ingredient May cause some rare but serious, potentially fatal skin reactions such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN: Toxic epidermal necrolysis), generalized pustular exanthematous syndrome. (AGEP: Acute generalized exanthematous), Lyell's syndrome, patients need to stop taking paracetamol and seek medical attention as soon as they see a rash or other skin manifestations or hypersensitivity reactions during treatment.

2. Be careful when using drugs

Patients with a history of such reactions should not take preparations containing paracetamol. Sometimes skin reactions including pruritic maculopapular rash and urticaria; Other hypersensitivity reactions including laryngeal edema, angioedema, and anaphylactoid reactions may occur rarely. Paracetamol should be used with caution in people with liver failure, kidney failure, alcoholics, chronic malnutrition or dehydration. Excessive alcohol consumption can increase the hepatotoxicity of paracetamol, so avoid or limit alcohol consumption.
Ibuprofen is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, derived from propionic acid. Similar to other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, ibuprofen has analgesic, antipyretic, and anti-inflammatory effects.
Care should be taken when administering ibuprofen to the elderly. Ibuprofen may increase liver enzymes, but this change is transient and reversible. Ibuprofen inhibits platelet aggregation and may prolong bleeding time. Liver function should be monitored frequently during long-term use of ibuprofen.
Plasma ALT concentration is the most sensitive index to assess the risk of decreased liver function of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Patients with impaired renal function should be used with caution and close monitoring when using ibuprofen. Using ibuprofen can increase blood pressure or worsen hypertension, increasing the risk of cardiovascular events.
Ibuprofen increases the risk of serious cardiovascular events due to thrombosis. The risk of cardiovascular events with ibuprofen is increased in patients with cardiovascular disease or risk factors for cardiovascular disease. To minimize cardiovascular events, the lowest effective dose and for the shortest duration should be used.

Patients should be informed about symptoms of serious cardiovascular toxicity (chest pain, dyspnea, weakness, difficulty speaking) and instructions on what to do when these symptoms occur. Ibuprofen should be used with caution in patients with fluid retention and heart failure as side effects of fluid retention and edema have been reported with these agents.
Caution is advised because the hypothermic and anti-inflammatory effects of ibuprofen may mask the inflammatory signs and symptoms of other diseases. In particular, pregnant women in the third trimester should not take ibuprofen because of the risk of premature closure of the ductus arteriosus in the fetus.

3. Dosage of Alaxan as recommended by the manufacturer

Adults: take 1 tablet every 6 hours as needed or as directed by a doctor Do not use for children under 12 years of age Elderly use the lowest dose for the shortest possible time Patients with impaired liver and kidney function : Using low doses can minimize unwanted effects. Do not use for more than 10 days without medical advice.

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Reference article source: Vietnam National Pharmacopoeia 2015, SPC